Rik is a partner in De Brauw's Employment and Employee Benefits practice group. He has been a key member of the firm's employment team since 2015, building a practice across the full spectrum of employment law.

Rik advises and represents clients in individual and collective labour matters, combining strategic advisory work with complex litigation. His practice is characterised by a multi-faceted approach, handling everything from high-stakes collective disputes – including industrial action and strike matters – involving trade unions and works councils to sensitive individual employment cases. He has particular expertise at the intersection of employment and corporate law, regularly advising on co-determination processes, boardroom matters, collective redundancies and workforce reorganisations. Rik also advises extensively on equal pay and pay transparency obligations.

A significant focus of Rik's work involves the employment law aspects of mergers and acquisitions, where he supports clients in navigating complex cross-border employment issues and large-scale restructurings. He has extensive experience handling international cases, combining technical expertise with a pragmatic, client-oriented approach.

Rik is a productive author, publishing regularly on employment law topics, and is a regular speaker at employment law masterclasses. He completed the Grotius employment law post-doctorate programme with honours in 2023, reflecting his commitment to legal quality and continuous professional development.